PBC29

Happened to us multiple times in Ft Lauderdale claiming due to my wheelchair it's more. Ask the taxi stand guy outside the baggage claim what the cost would be he says one price, cab shows up agrees that is the price yet at the end of the trip at the port or hotel they argue for more an say they didn't agree until we get another taxi stand person or nearby police involved.

You are a wheelchair accessible taxi why would your window sticker have a different flat rate price for wheelchair users and not say as much if it was true.

Ironically on many islands we've randomly been given cheaper rides than the prices posted. We've also been told by some Taxi drivers they won't take us at all because of my chair (which folds easily an fits in most car trunks).

In Miami it has also happened twice an the taxi stand person at the port agreed with the driver an not us. Yet at the airport they agreed with us an gave us the numbers to call an complain but nobody called us back. Needless to say we're not taking a taxi on our next trip out of port of Miami in a few weeks.

For the handicapped cabins the ashtray makes for a good soap dish when using the shower. Whoever came up with the location for the wall mounted shelves obviously never tried to use the shower seat an reach for things on them.

As for the Ice bucket - I agree rather pointless unless you need it every single day "which I doubt most do or ice wouldn't have to be asked for in the first place". Seven trips with MSC ask stewards 3 different times throughout the day for ice an it's actually shown up one time so we stopped asking an get it ourselves from the bar when we need it "faster and they actually fill the bucket completely". When not in use it goes in the bottom of the closet to be out of the way - was almost charged for it once when they didn't realize we put it out of the way an not in our bag.

Was just curious what route the shared shuttles take I95,FL turnpike or if some may take Biscayne Blvd instead even with the traffic lights. Yes I know traffic or construction might detour us but just wondering which route is typically used by these services.

We're still deciding which shared shuttle to use to get us from Ft Lauderdale airport to our ship in Miami and back. Jiffy Jeff or SAS but we'll figure that out closer to our trip in Feb.

We'll be on a sailing in Feb that group is also on, however we're a part of an Irish group not the motorcycle group.

Due to work schedules we sometimes have to fly in the day of the cruise but usually go the day before.

We had a day of cruise flight changed like that an being in a wheelchair 1st on last off makes such short layovers impossible yet the airline thinks it can be done. We had a 3hr layover changed to 40min but we switched to a non stop flight. Our friends decided to stick with the layover flight. Upon arrival in FL we found out their flight was diverted due to medical issue, then had to go to Atlanta and on to FL. We made the ship in plenty of time 4hrs they made the cut off time by 5min.

Sailed on the Poesia and Orchestra when they first came to the US market and prior to our trips we had been reading many bad reviews for those ships. Both our trips ended up being fun and enjoyable, sure it was different than what we were used to but nothing we would rule out sailing with MSC again. We'll be on Divina for the first time in Feb and expect it to be pretty much the same as our past MSC trips.

Only thing I'm not happy about is sailing out of Miami, I much prefer Ft Lauderdale.

Thanks all

The distance isn't an issue but steps mid trip would be. I'm used to wheeling 5-6 miles per port stop an wheeled from Crownbay into town multiple times. (it was always a PITA) The temps have never really been bad as we always sail in late Jan early Feb, just grab a bottle of water an go.

Would guess it isn't that much different than the old videos on Youtube.

Haven't been to the island in a while an never docked at Havensight until this cruise in Feb. I was just wondering is the sidewalk from Havensight pier into town wheelchair friendly or will we encounter steps/ non sidewalk sections along the way?

Is the sidewalk next to the water or the other side of the street?

Prefer to sail out of FLL but this year our groups cruise is out of Miami. Just wondering if the new (to us) tunnel cuts down on the time going to or from the airport.

Last time we sailed out of Miami we hit a lot of accidents and road construction, even the taxi driver commented it normally didn't take as long as it took us that trip.

Depends on the cruise line an what they want to pay for in docking fees our MSC port time is 8am-4pm. St Thomas the day before and sea day after.

Sounds like a pickpocket scam to me. Hope you checked your pockets an looked over credit card statements very carefully since then. Maybe even a credit check would be a good idea.

"Do you think cruise ships have a (negative) impact on the environment?" -

Yes but I took one here anyway. Without the cruise ship bringing me to San Juan, I wouldn't be here to take this survey. :p

I'm not a cruise virgin but I'll do virgin things such as:

I'm always awed by the ship - multiple cruises under my belt but only been on the same ship twice so new ship new aww moment.

I'm in a wheelchair they tell me bring the lifejacket to muster. How am I going to carry it and push myself- I wear it. 9 times out of 10 while waiting at the elevator someone will ask if I think the ship is going to sink or asks to take my picture.

I wear my ship S+S card around my neck with the cruise line issued lanyard won by playing a ship game on my first cruise with that line.

I take lots of pictures - 8G SD card in the camera and another 4G as backup.

Packing has gotten easier after learning the different ships "RULES" vs what people really wear. Formal night as a newbie actual suit, now basic sport coat an shirt sometimes a tie.

Thanks for the video - guess I'll be making that day my sleep in day instead of getting off the ship.

Is Great Stirrup Cay wheelchair accessible, or is it all sand walkways/paths? Traveling alone so won't get off the ship if can't get around at all.

Wow he's still at it. Wonder how much he makes doing it. Totally NOT a believable story sounds so rehearsed it couldn't be true. Not to mention while around the port area I couldn't find anyone that didn't speak English. Why isn't he going up to every single person walking off the dock if he's that in need of $$$ and if his story were true.

According to the older thread about the scam guy a little ways down the forum page he's still at it - last post reported spotting him was last week.

Got to meet him or someone doing the same scam 2yrs ago. We're going to SJ again this winter. I'll be looking for him. His story was so fake, I can't believe anyone would actually give him a penny.

So we have this picture from Nov. 20th. Isn't there somebody who has been there since and has a more recent picture of how the progress is going?

I'll be sure to take one on our cruise but don't leave until feb 2nd come back feb 9th

Opens just in time for our Feb 7th visit - never been to a margaritaville that wasn't just a restaurant this one is supposedly will have a pool, a water slide, a zip line feature and Jacuzzi.

Should be semi entertaining for those not interested in leaving the port area.

I don't believe anyone is saying the act of having card numbers stolen can't happen. I believe we all know it can happen and it can happen anywhere at any time.

The fact of the handbag website doing such an extensive act in googling Tazzy and others to tell them their card was used does seem abit strange. I agree with the post above "that is some customer service" to take all that time in searching for people to notify them without any financial gain.

Considering Tazzy says the card compromised was the card that paid for the cruise and not the one used for onboard purchases:

The issue must have occurred with the purchasing of the cruise which if I’m not mistaken (and please correct me if I'm wrong) was done through a 3rd party “SHIPROCKED” and not directly with MSC.

With that said: Kate0330 also was with the “Shiprocked” group and knows “several people who had similar fraudulent charges” Yet nobody seems to be considering the “shiprocked” site they booked the trip with may have been the one compromised and possibly MSC and its staff had nothing to do with it at all. But because it happened after being on an MSC ship it must be the fault of MSC and nobody else right???

Just an update: I contact another person that I know was on that cruise and she knows quite a few people that had their card number stolen.

I have to wonder how many people is "quite a few"???

For me it lasted 1 day but didn't start until the day after I got home. For others in our group it started while waiting for the plane at the airport to fly home and theirs lasted upto a week.

It was on a 7day caribbean

How about bringing along a pet rock? :p

On our last MSC cruise

For Men

Mostly board shorts or regular shorts with afew speedo guys who really shouldn't have been.

Women

(over 55) had mostly one-piece swimsuits or were dressed in shorts, pants an top of some sort. Very rare bikinis but afew.

The younger females were wearing more classic bikini than anything else although did see afew tankinis and thong style.

Just be sure to bring something to cover up with, if you plan on going to the buffet for lunch.